Amino-acid derivative (not a peptide) that shuttles fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production; widely sold as an oral supplement and as an injectable component of "lipotropic" shots.
500-2000 mg/day oral; 50-100 mg per injection in lipotropic blends
Typical cycle length
Ongoing
BioHack Track models L-Carnitine at a half-life of 15 hours, so every dose you log is decayed against that curve and the app shows estimated active levels — not just what you typed.
No approved product cited
No FDA-approved product for this compound is cited on this page, and no approved human dose is quoted. Treat the range below as research and community practice rather than a prescribed dose.
Reconstitution
Oral capsules/liquid need no prep; injectable forms are typically pre-mixed.
Storage
Store at room temperature.
Cautions
Generally well-tolerated; evidence for meaningful fat-loss effects from supplementation alone (absent a calorie deficit) is modest.
Track L-Carnitine in BioHack Track. Half-life, dose range and route come
pre-filled from this library — log a dose and the app counts your vial down, models what is
in your system, and puts it on the same chart as your labs and body composition.
Evidence Check asks 10 questions about every compound. For L-Carnitine it can answer 3 of them, from the papers we hold — graded by how strong the study design is, not by whether the findings are flattering. These are the same verdicts the app gives.
Strongest EvidenceCognition
Meta-analyses or systematic reviews exist — the highest grade of evidence there is, whatever they conclude. Read them.
Acetyl-L-carnitine for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathyMeta-Analysis · Cochrane Database Syst Rev · 2019 · PMID 31201734
Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine and methylcobalamin for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trialRandomized Controlled Trial · J Diabetes Investig · 2016 · PMID 27180954
Strongest EvidenceWeight loss
Meta-analyses or systematic reviews exist — the highest grade of evidence there is, whatever they conclude. Read them.
The Effects of L-Carnitine Supplementation on Weight Loss, Glycemic Control, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Dose-response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsMeta-Analysis · Clin Ther · 2024 · PMID 38594107
Effects of l-carnitine supplementation on weight loss and body composition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled clinical trials with dose-response analysisMeta-Analysis · Clin Nutr ESPEN · 2020 · PMID 32359762
Beneficial effects of l-carnitine supplementation for weight management in overweight and obese adults: An updated systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsMeta-Analysis · Pharmacol Res · 2020 · PMID 31743774
Some Clinical EvidenceWound healing
Clinical trials in humans have looked at this.
Modulatory Effects of Multi-species/Multi-strain Synbiotic and L-carnitine Concomitant Supplementation on Atherogenic-Indices, Body Composition, Visceral Obesity, and Appetite in Metabolically Healthy Women with Obesity: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical TrialRandomized Controlled Trial · Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins · 2025 · PMID 39921845
Research references only. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to take anything.
Look up the research
These open a search of each database for L-Carnitine — they are not citations, and nothing here is evidence for any particular dose. The same links are in the app.
12 papers naming L-Carnitine in the title, drawn from PubMed and limited to reviews, meta-analyses and trials. Each was checked against PubMed’s own record for its title, journal and year. This is a starting point, not an evidence review — nothing here is offered as support for the dose range above, and the list is not exhaustive. See the editorial policy.
The half-life, route and dose range on this page are compiled from published
pharmacokinetic literature, manufacturer and product monographs where one exists, and the
ranges commonly reported in clinical and research use. They are kept as a range
rather than a single figure because that is what the sources actually support — a
half-life varies with route, formulation and the person.
These are not citations, and this page is not a review of the evidence. Where a
number matters to you, follow the database links above and read the source. We say so
plainly rather than dressing a compiled reference up as one.
Nothing on this page has been reviewed by a named clinician. It is a reference for
people already tracking a protocol, not a recommendation to start one.
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Last updated ·
Corrections: support
General reference compiled for use
inside the app, not medical advice and not a recommendation to take anything. Dose ranges are
what is commonly discussed, not a prescription. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional.